NEW YORK, June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Starter, a
transmedia company that provides platforms to amplify girls in
entrepreneurship and business leadership, announced the winners of
its first hit reality-competition TV show on Friday, June 2.
The winning team, made up of three artists-turned-entrepreneurs,
Tiffany Carvalho, Darrel Kennedy and Olli
Payne, pitched a new app, Tolli, that would help artists,
like themselves, network and find job opportunities.
"Given our backgrounds as artists, the idea grew naturally,"
said Payne. "I think we won the competition by conveying our
passion for the ideas we put forward. I've learned firsthand that
passion is critical when launching a business."
Team Tolli received $100,000 of
seed funding and services to help turn their business concept into
a reality.
"This has definitely been a transformative experience for me,"
said winner, Darrel Kennedy. "I
think I speak for all of us when I say that I can't wait to
continue growing Tolli into something truly special."
"Girl Starter" helped guide contestants through six steps
of early-phase business building: start it, plan it, prove it,
build it, brand it and fund it. The girls participated in
entertaining challenges and had help from key mentors and vibrant
guest stars along the way.
"It's important for young girls to be reminded that they have
the potential to do great things in the world of business," said
the company's co-founder and CEO, Jeannine
Shao Collins. "The idea behind 'Girl Starter' is to empower
girls to become the next generation of female business leaders and
innovators. I think we proved that's possible with this show."
"I hope that through 'Girl Starter,' we've inspired young girls
everywhere to take risks and have the confidence to launch their
own business," said Carvalho. "I feel so fortunate to think that I
can have that kind of impact."
"Girl Starter" is built on a sponsorship-based business model
integrating brands throughout the series, website and tour.
Staples, Inc. is the presenting sponsor and other key sponsors
include: Visa, Vera Bradley,
Microsoft, Air Force, Pilot Pen and Klarbrunn Sparkling Water.
Staples, Inc. was so impressed by the runner-up team of
Neha Raman and Claire Coder that the company rewarded the group
with $10,000 worth of marketing
services to launch their business, thoughtFULL cookies. As part of
the partnership, Staples CEO Shira
Goodman appeared on the final episode as a guest judge and
also announced the winning team. Additionally, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, who, upon hearing the
announcement of the winner, donated another $10,000 in funding from Vera Bradley for the runners up.
ABOUT GIRL STARTER
Girl Starter is a revolutionary
transmedia entertainment and technology company that activates,
amplifies, mentors and funds the next generation of female business
leaders and innovators. Anchored by a reality television series
that had its premiere season on TLC from April 28 to June 2, 2017, "Girl Starter" aims to
reach young women everywhere with actionable content via social
media, a digital platform, GirlStarter.com, and a 10-city live tour
throughout the U.S.
ABOUT AL ROKER ENTERTAINMENT
Al Roker Entertainment is
a leading producer of original, award-winning TV programs and
digital content. Led by 13-time Emmy award–winning TV personality
and trusted multimedia authority Al
Roker, ARE produces all forms of content for distribution
across a variety of platforms around the world including:
broadcast, cable, digital, OTT and streaming technologies.
Launched in 1994, ARE has produced a variety of breakthrough
unscripted, scripted and digital programming for such top cable
networks as the Weather Channel, Food Network, Discovery Channel
and Lifetime, among others. Shows include the Weather Channel hit
"Coast Guard Alaska" and its popular spin-offs "Coast Guard
Florida" and "Coast Guard: Cape Disappointment-Pacific Northwest."
Recently, the company also produced the reality-based "DEA" program
for Spike TV, "Kimberly's Simply Southern" for GAC, "Celebrity
Holiday Homes" for HGTV and digital programs "The Graduates NYC"
for Aspire.tv and "BizWireTV" in partnership with Business Wire.
Recently, Al Roker formed Roker
Media to develop programming for live-streaming video platforms,
and Roker Labs to develop data and analytics for live-streaming
brands, programmers and platforms.
ABOUT STAPLES, INC.
Staples brings
technology and people together in innovative ways to consistently
deliver products, services and expertise that elevate and delight
customers. Staples is in business with businesses and is
passionate about empowering people to become true professionals at
work. Headquartered outside of Boston, Mass., Staples,
Inc. operates primarily in North America, with additional
offices in South America and Asia. More information
about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available
at www.staples.com.
Contacts:
Ed O'Donnell
ed@girlstarter.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/three-girl-entrepreneurs-win-big-in-first-ever-girl-starter-competition-300470383.html
SOURCE Girl Starter